During the Nazi occupation, Moszek and Motek were hiding in the forests located near Janów Lubelski. Moszek Hamer (on the left) lost nearly all his family living in this area. His grandparents, Azriel and Szifra, were killed by the Nazis in Janów Lubelski. In autumn 1942 in Przymiarki, a group of Polish bandits executed 48 men of Jewish origin. One of the victims was Awrum, Moszek’s father. In spring 1943, on Passover Eve, German soldiers murdered his mother Henele and his elder sister Mania. They were killed in the vicinity of Jarugi forest. Apart from Moszek, the only survivor of the family was his younger sister Nechama.
Motek Goldhecht (on the right) was born and brought up in Warsaw. In 1942 he fled the Warsaw ghetto. Afterwards, he secretly sailed to Annopol and headed towards Godziszow near Janow Lubelski. Having arrived in the village on foot, he visited his acquaintances from Warsaw- the Grosman family. Goldhecht’s closest relatives were probably killed in Treblinka. Escaping from extermination, Motek and other Jews fled into the local woods. Three of Motek’s friends- Mosze, Tuvia and Chaim Grosmans- were executed in Przymiarki. The only survivor was their mother, Henele, who along with Motek took care of Moszek and Nechama Hamers. Many persecuted Jews in Godziszow village were supported by Maciej Gajur and Stanisław Pudlo. Many years later, following the request of Motek Goldhecht, Yad Vashem Institute in Jerusalem posthumously honored the two Poles as the Righteous Among the Nations of the World.

In the second row below you can see Rywka Kopciach (second from the left) and her sister Ruchla (second from the right).

Hordzieżka- the village on the south-west side of the Gułowski forest. First mentions of the village date back to XV century. During the defensive war in 1939 the units of Independent Operational Group “Polesie” commanded by general Franciszek Kleeberg were stationed in the village. In the same time 8 Jewish families lived in Hordzieżka: Gedala, Gedanken, Kopciarz, Dawidowicz, Gerecht, Morel, Zajdenworn, Rejman. Srul Gedanken owned a shop, Moszek Zajdenworn was a farmer. In the first period of the war twins Ruchla and Rywka Kopciarz were killed.Ruchla was shot by the Nazis in Hordzieżka. Her sister was murdered in Korwin- the site of torments created by the Nazis in the sawmill are near Hordzieżka. The Gestapo units were stationed there along with their Lithuanian and Ukrainian helpers commanded by Gestapo soldier Imbek. This was the place from which they set out to chase and kill Jews inhabiting local villages. In September 1942 the Nazis shot 150 Jews in Krzywda, 96 in Okrzeja (October 1942) and 36 in Wola Okrzejska. In Wojciechówka they murdered Zofia and Stanisław Marciniak along with 5 Jews hidden in the family’s house. Germans used to catch and kill Jews who jumped out of the trains heading towards the extermination camp Treblinka. The Nazis also murdered brave sisters from Karczmiska- Stanisława and Wiktoria. They were “punished” for helping Jews. There were other people imprisoned in Korwin and shot for the same reason: Bronisława Ragan from Lasocin, Bronisława Mazurek from Szczepaniec , Jacak family from Przykwa Kolonia. The local community was intimidated and suffered a lot due to constant assaults and arrests. Every night people risked their lives , forced to help the Nazis against their will. In autumn 1942 Jews from Hordzieżka were taken away to the ghetto in Łuków. Only Rubin Dawidowicz managed to survive, hidden in Wojciech Biadoń’s house in Hordzieżka. In 1968 Rubin Dawidowicz moved to Israel. The above mentioned materials come from a private chronicle written by Janina Owczarska and the collection of The Lasting Memory Foundation.

1937- a group of students from local school with their teacher. Second girl from the right- Małka Rozenszer, the one on Małka’s right- Mirjam Zalc.

In 1827 Stara Wieś numbered 74 houses inhabited by 63 peasant families, 8 noble families and 3 families making a living from trading. In August 1926 43 people were chosen for the Voluntary Fire Brigade managed by Wojciech Mróz. There were two Jews among the team members: Berek Zylber and Szmul Diament. The names of Jews from Stara Wieś are only partly remembered by the local community. One of the inhabitants was Sana Zylbert, commonly known as Sana. He was a shoemaker. His sons traded in cattle, Sana’s mother made a living from poultry and dairy products. The family lived in a rented house owned by Józef Marczak. There were more Stara Wieś inhabitants of Jewish origin: Hersz Korn with his wife (name unknown), sons Mosze and Major, daughters Hana and Rywka. The father and his sons were shoemakers and traded in cattle. They lived in their own house.

• Herszek-last name unknown, had a wife Hana. He was a shoemaker, lived in a room rented from Jan Rakuś.

• Godel Zalc- lived with his wife (name unknown) and a daughter Mirjam called Marianka. The father traded in cattle and fruits. He owned his own house and a farm building. Local Jews used to gather in his house for prayers.

• Chemja- last name unknown, lived with his wife and sons- Motek and Szyja. Thefamily made a living from buying raw animal skins. Motek traded in cattle. The family lived in their own house.

• Herszek- last name unknown, lived with his wife, sons- Chaim and Nuchym and daughters- Bajla and Gitla. The father and the oldest son Chaim were shoemakers.

• Rozenszer- full name unknown, had a son Zelik and a daughter Małka. They owned a house.

Before the Second World War Stara Wieś was inhabited by 10 Jewish families. Szmul Diament moved to Bychawa in 1934. In 1938 Rozenszer family sold their house along with their farm and moved to Żółkiewka. Jojna (full name unknown) moved to the south along with the withdrawing Soviet Army in 1939. In September 1940 six Jewish families were brought to Stara Wieś. 25 people were accommodated in the houses belonging to local Jews. The families were supplied with food by local farmers. In March 1941 a German military policeman Maks stopped by the house of Zalc Godel, threw out two young Jews and shot them immediately. Chaim- Herszek’s son- was shot by the Nazis in Zakrzew , in military cemetery in which other Jews were also killed. The Nazis shot three Jews hiding in local forest and forced a forester to bury the bodies. In autumn 1941 German Military Police arrived in Stara Wieś and threw all Jews out of their houses. As a column they slowly walked towards the ghetto in Żółkiewice. Most of the Jews from Żółkiewice ghetto were taken away to extermination camp in Sobibór.

This brief history of Jews from Stara Wieś can be found in a private unpublished chronicle written by Tadeusz Chrzanowski- inhabitant of the village. He intended to prevent the history from oblivion and honor the victims. The above mentioned documents have been given to The Lasting Memory Foundation.